International media reported that walkie-talkies belonging to members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded on Wednesday, a day after hundreds of pagers exploded simultaneously across the country.
Mr Guterres is deeply concerned by reports that a large number of communications equipment have exploded in Lebanon and Syria over the past two days, his spokesman said in a statement.
At least eleven people were killed, including children, and thousands more were injured.
Stop the fighting, restore stability
“The Secretary-General urges all concerned to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation,” the statement said.
He also called on the parties to recommit to the full implementation of UN standards. Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and immediately proceed to a cessation of hostilities to restore stability.
The resolution was adopted in August 2006 and aimed to end the war that broke out that year between Israel and Hezbollah on Lebanese soil. It called for an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
The statement concluded with the words: The UN “supports all diplomatic and political efforts to end the violence that threatens to engulf the region.”
De-escalation ‘more crucial than ever’: UN human rights chief
The explosions come against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and last year’s attacks in Lebanon, the Syrian Golan Heights and Iran linked to the conflict.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also issued a statement a statement deploring the widespread simultaneous explosions and stressing the need for de-escalation.
“In these extremely uncertain times, I call on all states with influence in the region and beyond to take immediate measures to prevent further expansion of the current conflicts – enough of the daily horrors, enough of the suffering,” he said.
“It is high time that leaders stand up for the rights of all people to live in peace and security. The protection of civilians must be the highest priority. De-escalation is more important today than ever.”
Call for research
Mr. Turk went on to say that “targeting thousands of individuals simultaneously, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge of who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location and their environment at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.”
He called for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation and for those who ordered and carried out the attacks to be held accountable.
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon also warned of the risk of escalation.
“Painted by the casualties suffered today by more explosions of devices, I can only reiterate my call for restraint. Further escalating actions could have devastating consequences,” Jeanine Hennis-Plaschaert wrote in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The envoy also acknowledged the efforts of medical teams “working under enormous stress to save lives and treat the wounded.”
